A History of Brooklyn

Posted On June 30, 2015

A history of Brooklyn begins with the name itself. Breuckelen, settled in 1646, was one of six separate Dutch towns chartered by the Dutch West India Company. The land had been home to the Canarsie nation of Native Americans, who ceded their homeland to the incoming Dutch colonists. By 1664 the English controlled Manhattan and Brooklyn, with the six colonies joined in 1683 to make Kings County.

The American Revolution played a significant role in a history of Brooklyn, which was the site of a major battle in 1776. Though the Americans lost, they were able to cross the East River and take refuge in Manhattan.

In 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, New York became an American state, and Brooklyn thrived as its own city for generations. On January 1, 1898, Brooklyn joined the other four boroughs of New York City to create one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world.

Were Brooklyn to secede from NYC, it would instantly become America's fourth biggest city.

Friendly Neighbors

Brooklyn retains its unique character, though, so a history of Brooklyn must pay homage to its neighborhoods. In no particular order of importance—because comparing Brooklyn neighborhoods is sure to start a healthy disagreement among Brooklynites—here are the major neighborhoods of the borough:

Coney Island—Yes, it still has amusements, hot dogs and a great boardwalk

Gowanus—galleries, cafes, forward-looking innovators have rechristened this former industrial spot

Things To See and Do in Brooklyn

The saying, “Only the dead know Brooklyn” sounds far more sinister than its meaning. Thomas Wolfe’s titular short story probably...probably...means that Brooklyn has so much to offer, you can spend a lifetime trying to understand the borough. A history of Brooklyn means a history of art and architecture, of fun and food and frights. Highlights for any tour include:

Brooklyn Heights and the Promenade—Come for the view of Manhattan, stay for the romantic magic

Coney Island’s Cyclone—A real bone-rattling roller coaster

Green-Wood Cemetery—If the dead really do know Brooklyn, you can find them here, in this Victorian celebration of intricate, overdone decoration

In addition, you can find nearly every food imaginable, from all over the planet, in Brooklyn. A history of Brooklyn must include an appreciation of its evolution from working-class corner restaurants to some of the city’s best eateries.